MINUTES
OF TOWER LAKES
PRESIDENT
AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING
Date: September 18, 2000
Location: Village Office
Time: 7:10 P.M.
_______________________________________________________________________
PLEDGE:
President Fitzpatrick called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL:
Present: Trustees Aitken, Cantieri, Jansing, Kuskowski and Parro; President Fitzpatrick; and Village Clerk Chulumovich. Absent: Trustee Heagarty.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Trustee Kuskowski made a motion to approve the August 21st minutes which was seconded by Trustee Jansing and followed by a unanimous voice vote.
INSURANCE RENEWAL:
Trustee Cantieri recused himself from the discussion and vote regarding the Village’s Insurance renewal. Two separate insurance agents/companies presented their proposals before the Board – 1) Todd Greer and Jeff Wine (Wine, Serge & Co) representing the Illinois Counties Risk Management Trust (ICRMT) - a risk pool for public entities; and 2) Ralph Jensen (Ralph Jensen and Associates) representing Bliss McKnight Insurance, the Village’s current insurer. The Village’s renewal date was September 21, 2000 therefore, a decision needed to be made by Wednesday, September 20th. A copy of ICRMT proposal is on file at the Village Office. In summary, ICRMT premiums would include $8,517 for Property and Casualty insurance and $4,045 for Workers Compensations for total premium of $12,562 through 2001. In contrast, Bliss McKnight premiums include $14,401 Property and Casualty insurance and $4,775 Workman’s Compensation for a total premium of $19,236.
The Board, after much discussion, agreed to renew the contract with Ralph Jensen (e.g. Bliss McKnight). Although, ICRMT premiums were almost $7000 less than Bliss McKnight. The Board determined that they did not have sufficient time to fully evaluate insurance alternatives since the renewal decision had to be made by September 21st (e.g. policy expiration date) and did not want to make a decision based solely on premium costs. Furthermore, the Board expressed concerns with a "risk pool" – the financial stability of the pool and the experience of ICRMT --- ICRMT primarily insures public entities such as, park districts and townships in Central and Southern Illinois and not Villages and has only been in the Property and Casualty insurance business since the late 1990s -- ICRMT was founded in 1983 to provide workers compensation coverage).
Trustee Jansing made a motion to renew the Villages Insurance coverage with Jensen and Associates and to begin to evaluate insurance options for next year which was seconded by Trustee Parro. Roll call vote followed: AYES: Aitken, Jansing, Kuskowski, and Parro. NAYES: None. Trustee Cantieri recused himself from discussion of the insurance issue, as well as the vote.
WATER SYSTEM:
Monthly Production Report: The Monthly
Production Report and Year-to-Date Summary are available at the Village Office.
Well Facilities Status: Abandonment of
Well 1 has been delayed since the Village must apply for an EPA permit. Trustee
Kuskowski reported that WVP has not yet made recommendations regarding
modifications to well houses 1 & 4, but said that he expects the
recommendations by September 20th.
Mains Replacement Status: The
Tomahawk-Esther water main project needs engineering drawings and a permit form
EPA. Trustee Kuskowski said that the Village will use Baxter and Woodman for
the drawings. The Essex project is completed.
Old Meter Disposal: Old water meters are
stored in the Village garage and are waiting disposal. There is no mercury in
the old meters.
Husemoller’s Request: Mr. and Mrs.
Husemoller, residents of 661 Leon Drive, requested that the Village reimburse
them for costs incurred ($2400) in repairing their aggregate driveway due to
the repair of a water main leak. President Fitzpatrick stated that since the
water main in the driveway is on the Village right-of-way, the Village is not
responsible for repairing the driveway to its previous state – aggregate (e.g.
non-standard) driveway. The Board discussed adopting a policy whereby the
Village would repair driveways, in such cases, with standard materials, such as
asphalt or gravel up to the lot-line. President Fitzpatrick and the Board
agreed to consult with the Village Attorney regarding a recommendation.
PLAN COMMISSION:
President Fitzpatrick appointed (with the Board’s approval) Terri Niehoff to the Plan Commission to replace Mark Stadler, who recently resigned.
ZBA:
No meeting held. A meeting is scheduled for October 12th to hear requests for height variances on the Mennina property and the Gray property – 804 Roberts Rd.
Mr. James Gray spoke before the Village Board regarding his building permit which was initially granted then denied by the Building Inspector. The building inspector incorrectly calculated/measured the height of the house. Therefore, Mr. Gray must request a height variance of 3’ 6". In order to commence construction, Mr. Gray asked whether it was permissible to submit a new building permit with a shallower roof pitch (within the maximum 27’). As work was in progress, he would apply for the 3’ 6" height variance and if denied the variance from the Board (e.g. via ZBA recommendation), he would continue with the shallower pitch. The Board agreed to have Mr. Gray proceed with the building permit for the shallower pitch as he awaits a variance recommendation from the ZBA and decision by the Board with a decision regarding the variance no earlier than the October 16th Board meeting.
BUILDING AND ZONING REPORT:
Building
Permits
Trustee Cantieri reported that 3 permits were issued during August: 128 South Hills Drive - new roof; 117 South Drive – roof; and 208 Devonshire – siding. A stop work order was issued for 25876 N. Rte. 59 – working without a permit with plans submitted on August 4th unacceptable.
The Board discussed adopting an ordinance requiring anyone converting garage space into living space to construct a garage, of at least equal size, to replace the converted garage. The Board agreed to vote on the ordinance at the October Board meeting.
TREASURER'S REPORT:
President Fitzpatrick reviewed the list of September bills to be paid. Trustee Cantieri made a motion to approve payment of the September bills which was seconded by Trustee Kuskowski and followed by a roll call vote: Ayes: Trustees Aitken, Cantieri, Jansing, Kuskowski, and Parro. Nays: None.
Trustee Kuskowski made a motion to approve the Tax Levy Resolution which was seconded by Trustee Cantieri and followed by a roll call vote: Ayes: Trustees Aitken, Cantieri, Jansing, Kuskowski, and Parro. Nays: None.
FINANCE:
Trustee Jansing reported that McGladry and Pullen, the accounting firm the Village has used to perform the annual financial audits, has proposed charging $7000 - a 50% increase over last year – to conduct this year’s audit. Clerk Chulumovich has been in contact with Mr. Thoma, Managing Partner – McGladry and Pullen, who recommended another accounting firms. She agreed to contact the recommended firm.
POLICE REPORT:
Trustee Aitken reviewed the monthly Police Activity Report which is on file at the Village Office.
STORM WATER MANAGEMENT:
Trustee Kuskowski reported that the Watershed Development ordinance must be passed by November 6th.
ROADS REPORT:
President Fitzpatrick reported that the Village’s paving project is well underway.
HEALTH & SANITATION:
Trustee Cantieri reported on the proposed Barrington ordinance that limits the ratio of floor space to lot size (e.g. floor area ratio--FAR) and the structure’s height so as to not block daylight from an adjacent structure (daylight plane height--DPR). The Board agreed to continue discussing this issue.
UTILITIES:
Trustee Parro reported that Ameritech is offering DSL service to a few homes in N. Lake near the Wauconda source.
Trustee Cantieri will order the lights for the Village flagpole and oversee the installation.
URBAN FORESTRY:
President Fitzpatrick reported that Dick Lathan has volunteered to install lights (e.g. cost of materials, only) at some of the Village entrances. Also the entrance will also continue to be replaced with pavers (e.g. South Hills and East Lake Shore). Fall Brush pick-up is scheduled for October 16th.
OLD BUSINESS:
Bob Ernst reported on TLIA’s decision regarding the Bay’s Place Restoration. The TLIA is recommending retaining the water main asphalt (due to cost and Peter Baker recommendation), approving hard surface path at the November Annual meeting, authorizing $2500 for benches, boat landing, marker posts, shrubs, etc., and planting trees via the tree program.
President Fitzpatrick stated that he received a petition form 30 North Lake residents requesting that the Road Closed sign extend further past the current sign – to the pine tree. The Village Board agreed to keep the Road Closed sign at its current location – an extension would not be safe. The Board agreed to remove all asphalt from the sign to the causeway path allowing the water main asphalt to remain. In addition, the Board agreed to allow TLIA to open the path along Esther Drive to West Drive connecting Bays Place. President Fitzpatrick stated the Village attorney will write the revocable license.
President Fitzpatrick stated that the Board will address the North Lake petition at the October board meeting.
NEW BUSINESS:
President Fitzpatrick signed a proclamation declaring October National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
MEETING ADJOURNED
At 10:48 P.M., Trustee Jansing made a motion to move into the Executive Session to discuss personnel matters which was seconded by Trustee Kuskowski and followed by unanimous voice vote. At 11:37 P.M. Trustee Kuskowski made a motion to adjourn the Executive Session and move back into the Board meeting which was seconded by Trustee Jansing and followed by unanimous voice vote. At 11:38 P.M. Trustee Jansing made a motion to adjourn the Board meeting which was seconded by Trustee Kuskowski and followed by unanimous voice vote.
Respectfully Submitted,
Madeline M. Chulumovich
Village Clerk